Dental anxiety comes in many forms; however, no matter how it manifests, generally speaking, dental anxiety makes it difficult for patients to get the care they need. Our Saint Louis dentists are here to change that narrative. We work with our patients to develop treatment plans that meet their needs, while helping them to feel confident throughout the treatment process.
It all starts with a personal consultation. This is a time for our dental team to learn everything we can about your concerns, your dental history, and your goals for treatment. The more information you’re able to share with our team, the better. If you’ve had negative dental experiences in the past, for example, talking to our dentists about what went wrong can help us avoid repeating history.
There are also a number of sedation treatments that we utilize in-office to put anxious patients at ease.
Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a commonly used sedation treatment that delivers instantaneous results. All you have to do is inhale the nitrous oxide through a face mask, and you’ll start to feel calm, relaxed, and maybe even a little giggly. The effects of nitrous oxide wear off quickly and naturally, so you don’t have to worry about feeling “out of it” post-treatment.
Oral conscious sedation is another relaxation option that helps many kinds of patients get high-quality dental care. One unique aspect of oral conscious sedation is that it actually allows you to start relaxing before you even get to our office. You’ll take a small, dentist-prescribed pill about an hour before your appointment is scheduled to begin. By the time you get to our office (keep in mind you will need someone to get you to and from your appointment) you’ll be feeling relaxed and worry-free. Another benefit of oral conscious sedation is that this medication has amnesic effects; you probably won’t remember any of the treatment process once it’s all said and done.
Our Saint Louis sedation dentists personalize relaxation treatment to fit our individual patients’ needs, there are no one-size-fit all solutions here. The best way to get started is to contact our dental team by phone or through the Contact Us page on our site. We look forward to helping you take control of your smile for life!